SENIOR FOREST RANGER - 42002400 (FOR INTERNAL AGENCY EMPLOYEES ONLY)
About The Position
The Senior Forest Ranger performs forest fire prevention, detection, suppression, and pre-suppression; provides technical forestry services and information to landowners and wood-using industry representatives; assists with state lands management; and presents forestry educational programs. The position is an internal agency opportunity open only to current employees of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The incumbent must live within 30 miles of the assigned headquarters at 7620 133rd Road, Live Oak, Florida, throughout employment. The role includes operating and maintaining wildfire suppression equipment, investigating wildfire causes and smoke complaints, conducting burn authorization inspections, patrolling for fires, delivering prevention programs, and responding to all-risk emergencies. It also involves assisting private landowners with pre-suppression activities and providing technical forestry assistance under the supervision of a Forest Area Supervisor or professional Forester. State lands duties include supporting land management and recreation, maintaining public facilities, and operating equipment used for those purposes. The ranger also coordinates maintenance and construction at fixed facilities and equipment and purchases materials for projects. The incumbent must possess a valid driver license and obtain a Class A Commercial Driver License with tanker endorsement within six months of appointment. A Firefighter Certificate of Compliance (Certified Florida Wildland Firefighter) is required for permanent status. The position involves occasional to moderate travel, emergency response travel as needed, rotating days off, and on-call duty. Applicants receiving an offer must pass pre-employment drug, medical, and physical fitness tests. Employees are subject to specified drug and alcohol testing, annual medical examinations, and annual physical fitness tests.
Requirements
- Three years of experience as a Forest Ranger with the Florida Forest Service; or three years of similar work experience with comparable training in another public wildland firefighting forestry organization; or an associate degree in Forest Technology or Fire Science from an accredited college or university and one year of the referenced experience.
- Obtain a firefighter certificate of compliance (Certified Florida Wildland Firefighter), including satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal. The certificate is required for permanent status.
- For firefighter certification: be a high school graduate or equivalent and at least 18 years old; meet the stated criminal history and discharge eligibility conditions; submit a fingerprint card and current processing fee; have good moral character as determined by investigation; and meet physical condition requirements as determined by medical examination.
- Possess a valid driver license.
- Obtain a Class A Commercial Driver License with tanker endorsement within six months of appointment.
- Live within 30 miles of the assigned headquarters at 7620 133rd Road, Live Oak, Florida, throughout employment.
- Pass a pre-employment drug test, comprehensive medical examination, and physical fitness test.
- Pass required post-employment drug and alcohol testing and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse queries, as applicable; complete annual medical examinations and physical fitness tests.
- Pass a background screening, including fingerprinting.
Responsibilities
- Perform and coordinate forest fire prevention, detection, suppression, and pre-suppression activities.
- Operate and maintain wildfire suppression equipment, including truck-tractor/semi-trailer or truck-and-trailer combinations, engines, bulldozers, transports, and other equipment.
- Investigate wildfire causes, gather evidence, interview witnesses, make recommendations to supervisors, and issue Notifications of Violations when appropriate.
- Detect wildfires through ground patrol or tower staffing; investigate smoke complaints; and conduct on-site inspections of burn authorizations.
- Present wildfire prevention programs and perform wildfire hazard mitigation work.
- Perform in qualified capacities within the Incident Command System, complete fire management reports, and respond to all-risk emergency incidents as required.
- Provide pre-suppression plowing and burning assistance to private landowners.
- Provide technical forestry assistance under the supervision of a Forest Area Supervisor or professional Forester, including assisting with timber inventories, tree seed collection, seedling lifting and planting, and forestry and environmental education.
- Assist with public lands management, including tree planting, timber marking and inventory, prescribed burning, boundary maintenance, threatened and endangered species protection, and wildfire protection.
- Monitor public use and assist visitors with services and recreation opportunities on state lands.
- Maintain state lands facilities, including trails, roads, campgrounds, boat ramps, and restrooms; operate and maintain related equipment such as graders, dump trucks, and loaders.
- Coordinate and perform maintenance and construction activities on fixed facilities and equipment, and purchase materials needed for projects.
- Perform other related work as assigned.
Benefits
- State of Florida Special Risk Retirement package
- Annual uniform allotment
- Annual boot allotment
- Annual and sick leave
- Nine paid holidays and one personal holiday each year
- State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
- Retirement plan options with employer contributions
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Tuition waivers
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Associate degree
